SIGN GUY arose from the unlikely synthesis of two ideas: (1) a story about a person who does whatever signs tell him to do, and (2) a subtitled scene in which two robots converse in modem carrier tones, free to exchange any sort of information they please. Once these two thoughts met head-on, the story wrote itself.

After recruiting the Egg and Cheese players to star in the picture, purchasing a brand-new digital camcorder, and writing the few scraps of paper that comprised the script, shooting began in late April 2000 at various locations in Philadelphia. The scenes in Jezebot's house were shot in the home of Tom Faith (Robot Tom), scenes in Sign Guy's house were shot in J. Waylon Battestelli's (Sign Guy's) house, and the Xando at Second and Lombard was chosen as the meeting place for Robot Tom and Jezebot, thanks to Jen Moore (Jezebot) working there and able to get permission to shoot.

Although the original intent was just to tell a wacky story, I realized soon after the commentary that Sign Guy makes on humanity's relationship with technology. But, it's just as much fun to watch without worrying about that junk.

Oneandø scene had to be reshot because first crack at it was out of focus and hard to follow due to ridiculously illuminated pastry case in background behind Robot Tom.

The Second & Lombard Xando was picked for the robot rendezvous because Jen worked there and was able to get us clearance to shoot. In no way does its use in this picture intended as an endorsement for their expensive coffee, gimmicky food, and laughably prissy coffee-alcohol hybrid beverages.

Robot Tom's character was frighteningly close to real Tom's character.

Jezebot's big dramatic soliloquy was not intended to be overdubbed with Macintalk Pro English Victoria (the computer voice) - unbeknownst to me, my camcorder's mic input jack got funked up and her real audio was unusable. This tragic incident also necessitated the overdubbing of Sign Guy's response, which, for some inexplicable reason, he did with a Forrest Gump accent. Low-budget filmmakers, let this be a lesson to always wear headphones.

Tom's sister apparently was upset that we burned part of her candles while shooting the climactic scene in her room. Apparently she was not fazed by the idea of simulated robot love on her bed.

starring

JESS SAMMIN
as Irish Girl

J. WAYLON BATTESTELLI
as Sign Guy

JEN MOORE
as Jezebot

and introducing
TOM FAITH
as Robot Tom

written, produced, directed, videographed and edited by
PAUL CURCIO

additional material by
THE EGG AND CHEESE PLAYERS

assistant sound
JIM BATTESTELLI
JEN MOORE

transportation manager/wrangler
TOM FAITH

music by
SHADOWY MEN ON A SHADOWY PLANET
"Who Painted Whistler's Mother?"
and
SERVOTRON
"Erotomatica"

additional sine wave compositions by
PAUL CURCIO

extra special thanks to
THE FAITH FAMILY
THE BATTESTELLI FAMILY
XANDO 2nd and Lombard
KR VIDEO

SIGN GUY
Paulco Heavy Industry PLC
May 2000.
Distributed by CONKY FILMS.

Precious little lighting, some shaky handheld shots, and shot on crummy digital video, and I didn't even think to bill it as a Dogme flick!

Mysterious disappearance of Jezebot's shoulder bag when she takes Sign Guy home the first time.

Why in God's name did I make the subtitles in the Oneandø scene red? Boy, are they hard to read. Email me if you want a transcription.

Somewhat questionable editing in the Chicken Dance montage, but boy, is that a complex song to edit to.

Overmodulation of "mood music" in climactic scene.

Jezebot's back hardware is not there when we see her enter her house from behind, yet it appears later on. Um, she has a secret panel?